In this FESTIVE HYMN SETTING nine of the original fifteen stanzas of Luthers Christmas hymn (Vom Himmel hoch) are arranged here in the manner of a mini-Christmas pageant for unison, antiphonal, and SATB singers of the congregation, plus organ. Arrangements and editions of settings by Praetorius, Reger, Scheidt, Buttstedt, and Zachau, in addition to settings by Burkhardt, bring to life the Christmas message of the angel (stanzas 1-4) and the Christians response to that message (stanzas 5-9).
